AwesomenessTV’s Next Movie Stars the Janoskians, an Australian YouTube Comedy Group (Exclusive)
AwesomenessTV has set a late-summer release for “Janoskians: Untold and Untrue,” a mockumentary and concert special that revolves around the YouTube pranksters’ sold-out performance at London’s Wembley Stadium.
The Janoskians are three brothers — Beau, Luke and Jai Brooks — along with their mates James Yammouni and Daniel Sahyoune. The group originally formed in 2011 in Melbourne, Australia, posting pranks and skits on YouTube. Now based in L.A., their videos generate around 150 million views on YouTube per month and they have more than 25 million combined followers across their social platforms.
The movie will be available worldwide in August on digital video-on-demand services, according to AwesomenessTV.
“Janoskians: Untold and Untrue” joins the slate of AwesomenessTV’s Awesome Films division, which aims to produce up to 15 movies per year with about half featuring YouTube stars. The company tapped producer Matt Kaplan to run the film group.
The film also reflects the recent trend of movies featuring popular YouTube creators and other digital stars, including Defy Media and AwesomenessTV’s “Smosh: The Movie,” set to be released later this month.
“Janoskians: Untold and Untrue” is the “semi-true” story about the group’s origins and culminates in their Wembley performance. The unrated movie promises to take fans behind-the-scenes to see the boys come together, fight, make up and take the stage. It also features cameos including by social-media stars Nash Grier, Meg DeAngelis, as well as Kendall Schmidt (Big Time Rush), U.K. band The Vamps, Janina Gavankar (“True Blood”).
“In four short years the Janoskians have developed a fanbase that will follow them anywhere, literally stopping traffic, which is why we want to be in business with them,” AwesomenessTV founder and CEO Brian Robbins said. “They are an incredibly spirited crew and we are already planning our next project with them.”
Added Janoskian’s Beau Brooks: “‘Janoskians: Untold and Untrue’ is an epic, very uncensored, debate-ably honest look at our lives together, from the beginning until now. It was an incredible experience and fans are going to be able to see us boys as never before.”
The film was written and directed by Brett Weiner. Exec producers are Brian Robbins, Joe Davola, Brett Bouttier and Weiner. Jeremy Skaller, The Janoskians, Lendi Slover and Jina Jones produced.
The Janoskians are repped by Jeremy Skaller and Management 360. Weiner is repped by Paradigm. AwesomenessTV is majority-owned by DreamWorks Animation, with Hearst holding a 25% interest.
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